Whether you are a beginner drummer, a military band student on a budget, or a home studio owner, you may want your drums to be durable and affordable, and sound great. The snare drum in particular defines the sound and feel of the entire drum kit, and the correct snare drum can add a lot of flexibility to your drumming style.
If you are new to drums and are not sure where to start, there are many basic options that are easy to play and set up, and they even come with all the accessories you need to start learning how to play drums. For example, the Mendini Student Snare Drum Set includes practice mats, drumsticks and suitcases, which is perfect for beginners.
The size of the snare drum varies in depth and diameter, both of which give the drum its unique sound. The depth range of the snare drum is 3-10 inches. The deeper the snare drum, the fuller it sounds. Similarly, the diameter of a snare drum is 6-14 inches. The larger the diameter of the snare drum, the lower its pitch.
The snare drum size of the standard rock drum set is 5-8 inches in depth and 14 inches in average diameter. For jazz, the average depth is 5 inches and the diameter is 14 inches. For military bands, although the average diameter is still about 14 inches, the depth of snare drums tends to be deeper, ranging from 11-12 inches.
The outside of the snare drum is called the shell. Snare drum shells are usually made of wood, metal, or a combination of both. Some drum kits use synthetic materials, such as acrylic or carbon fiber, but for snare drum construction, this is less common. The most commonly used woods are birch, maple and beech. Mahogany is not very popular now, but it was often used in the 1950s and 1960s. Some snare drums are made of a mixture of wood and metal, sandwiching the wood between the metal edges. This makes the sound of the snare drum more diverse, depending on where you hit it. The rim of the snare drum secures the top and bottom drumheads to the shell, and is usually made of metal. The most commonly used metals for snare drum hoops are brass, aluminum, and steel.
The wire at the bottom of the snare drum is the snare drum. They are usually made of metal, nylon or plastic.
The top of the snare drum (the part you hit) is called the percussion head. It is usually made of plastic, such as polyester film or Kevlar, and the bottom drum head is also called the snare drum head because this is where the snare drum is located.
When setting up the drum kit, the snare drum is placed on a tripod-type stand with three arms holding it in place. The height of the stand can be adjusted, and the stand can also be adjusted to tilt an angle toward the drummer. Drum hardware is usually made of metal.
Snare drums are tuned with keys, and the levers that hold each drum head in place can be tightened or loosened. A looser rod produces a lower pitch, and a tighter rod produces a higher pitch.
The price of snare drums ranges from approximately US$40 to US$1,700, depending on their materials and whether they are made for professional use.
A. There is a lever called a filter on the side of the snare drum, which separates the snare drum from the drum head, resulting in a lower pitch that may rattle. If you use a snare drum, it will tighten the drum and eliminate most of the rattle. An easy way to change the sound of a snare drum is to place one or more gel pads on it, called moon gel. Other studio techniques include using wallets, tapes, old drum heads, and even splash cymbals if you want a particularly unique sound.
A. All drumsticks have a rating using letters followed by numbers. The letters indicate what the drumsticks are usually used for. For example, a drumstick with the letter A represents an orchestra. These sticks tend to be lighter than others. Drumsticks with the letter B are used in bands, originally brass bands. They are thicker and heavier than A rods. The number on the drumstick is its diameter. The smaller the number, the thicker the stick. The diameter varies from two to seven. The most common drumstick for beginners is the 2B drumstick, because it is thick and easy to hold, so your tone will be more consistent.
Mendini MSN-1455P-BK Student Snare Drum Set: Available on Amazon
Our view: beginners can use this snare drum for military bands or home studios as a basic supplement to any drum set.
What we like: The height of the stand is adjustable, allowing student players to stand while playing. It comes with a suitcase and exercise mat.
What we don’t like: Some musicians say that the snare drum is too loud. And some players found that the carrying case is not very durable.
GRIFFIN Snare Drum | Poplar shell 14" x 5.5" with black PVC and coated head: Available on Amazon
Our view: This affordable snare drum is made of poplar wood and has a lively quality, suitable for all kinds of music genres, no matter what your drum style is.
What we like: It has eight tuning lugs instead of six to achieve a more stable tuning. The snare drum at the bottom is carved into the shell for a firmer sound.
What we don’t like: Some players find the snare drum sounds loose and easy to ring. Some players find that the head feels cheap and not durable.
Vangoa Snare Kit, Marching Snare Drum, 14" x 5.5": Available on Amazon
Our view: This maple snare drum is very suitable for military band students and is equipped with accessories such as neckband, silent pad and drumsticks.
What we like: The edges of the drum are rounded at an angle to get a brighter sound. It has 10 tuning lugs for tuning stability.
What we don’t like: Some players find that the stand is not raised high enough and feels fragile. Some players find that snare drums are easily out of tune.
Adrian Wengenroth is a contributor to BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company whose mission is to help simplify your buying decisions and save you time and money.
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